By John Knebels • Posted June 27, 2013

So much for looking forward to the Carpenter Cup Classic.

In the first round on June 17 at South Philadelphia’s Richie Ashburn Field, the CL dropped an 8-3 decision to the Suburban One National/Continental League. The contest started ugly, with two errors leading to three runs. It didn’t get much better, as SONC doubled the CL in hits by a scary 18-9.

The fact that seven players who had been named first-team All-Catholics chose not to participate significantly sullied the event.

“It benefited me because I got a chance to play, but it doesn’t say a lot about the league when our best players aren’t even there,” said an underclassman who requested anonymity. “This was a chance to show a lot of pride in our league.

“When people read that we lost and got outplayed, they’ll think the Catholic League isn’t any good anymore. But if our whole team showed up, I doubt any league could beat us, especially since we have so many great pitchers.”

Among those who had a reason to celebrate an individual accomplishment were Lansdale Catholic sophomore infielder Mike Christy, whose perfect box score included two hits and two runs scored in two tries; Archbishop Ryan senior pitcher Chris Elmes, who tossed two shutout frames; another LC contributor, senior Matt Hull, who ripped a long triple; and Prep junior Chase Standen who knocked in a run.

Speaking of All-Catholic …

Traditionally dominated by seniors, the All-Catholic baseball squads named at the conclusion of the regular season were comprised of more than one-third underclassmen (18 of 52), giving a whole new meaning to the term, “Can’t wait for next year.”

The Red Division included four juniors and one sophomore on the first team, and five juniors on the second team; in the Blue Division, only one junior was elected to the first team while a stunning five juniors and two sophomores made the second team.

Leading the vote-getters for the Red was St. Joseph’s Prep senior Tom Mullin. Bonner-Prendergast senior Jim Haley took Blue honors. Coincidentally, the Coaches of the Year were represented by the same school: the Prep’s Joe Falcone won the Red and Bonner-Prendergast’s Joe DeBarberie nabbed the Blue.

RED DIVISION
FIRST TEAM
INF Josh Teson Judge Sr.
1B Chris Melillo La S Sr.
OF Jimmy Herron La S So.
P Dom Cuoci La S Jr.
INF Chris Martin Prep Jr.
OF Jawan McAllister Prep Jr.
C Tim Rafter Prep Sr.
P Tom Mullin Prep Sr.
INF Bobby Romano Ryan Jr.
OF Gage Galeone Ryan Sr.
P Chris Elmes Ryan Sr.
DH Dan Stahl Ryan Sr.
SECOND TEAM
OF Mike O’Hanlon Judge Sr.
P Josh Teson Judge Sr.
DH Jeff Seigafuse Judge Sr.
INF Dom Cuoci La S Jr.
OF Pete Auteri La S Sr.
C John Fabriziani La S Sr.
P Tom Cockill La S Sr.
INF John Banes O’H Jr.
INF Will Latcham O’H Jr.
OF Nick Donovan O’H Sr.
P Will Latcham O’H Jr.
1B Matt Simon Roman Sr.
OF Connor Golden Ryan Jr.
BLUE DIVISION
FIRST TEAM
INF Jim Haley B-P Sr.
INF Frank Saviski B-P Sr.
P Pat Vanderslice B-P Sr.
P Dan Furman B-P Sr.
INF Dan Bier Carr Sr.
DH Evan Harvey Carr Sr.
OF Matt Hull LC Sr.
1B Josh Ockimey N-G Jr.
OF Joe Kinee N-G Sr.
OF Joe Santospago Wood Sr.
C John Santospago Wood Sr.
P Scott Boches Wood Sr.
SECOND TEAM
1B Pat Vanderslice B-P Sr.
INF Rich Tecco B-P So.
OF Tom Crumlish B-P Sr.
OF Brad Scull B-P Jr.
INF Eric McGough Carr Sr.
OF Matt Maerz Carr Jr.
P Matt Lafferty Carr Jr.
C Dan Sullivan C-E Sr.
INF Ian Conwell LC Sr.
DH Mike Christy LC So.
C Joe McGinley N-G Jr.
P John La Motta N-G Sr.
INF Erik Bowren Wood Jr.
OF Benji Abercrombie Wood Sr.
P Justin Babb Wood Sr.

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(John Knebels can be reached at jknebs@aol.com.)